Chima Okere, is one of the survivors of the twin bomb blast which occurred earlier today at Nyanya bus station, Abuja which killed scores of people.
Mr. Okere a businessman who is thanking God for his lucky escape narrated how he managed to escape the gory incident in an interview with newsmen although he sustained serious injuries and has been admitted in the hospital.
He told newsmen the explosions had come from two white buses parked inside the Nyanya Motor Park by the gate.
“I was inside the El-Rufai (high capacity) bus as we were driving out to the highway we heard the explosion from the two buses. I saw so many people dead; some with their limbs dismembered from their bodies.
“I was lucky, I do not know how I survived. So, I thank God for my life as very many were not so lucky,’’ Okere said.
PM News reports:
Another survivor, Ms Charity Enang from Cross River, said she was inside a coaster bus when the blast occurred.
“All we heard was `boom’ and I saw people’s flesh flying out of the window of the bus.
“I couldn’t stand after I fell in the bus but one man carried me out of the bus and took
me to an ambulance that brought me to Nyanya hospital,’’ she said.
A relative of a survivor, Mr Friday Attah, a driver, who lives in Mararaba, Nasarawa State, told NAN that his brother’s cab was damaged by the blast.
“Somebody called to inform me that they saw my brother at Nyanya hospital and I am thankful to God that he is stable and alive,’’ Attah’s relative said.
The police and hospital sources have confirmed 71 people dead in the early morning bomb explosion at Nyanya, Abuja, Mass Transit Park explosion.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Frank Mba, said 71 people died, while 174 others were injured in the explosion which occurred at the rush hour.
Dr Adetohun Osotimehin, the Chief Medical Director of Maitama General Hospital, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that 14 dead and 27 injured people were brought into the hospital.
She said that two others who were in critical conditions would be transferred to the National Hospital for treatment.
She promised that the hospital would do everything within its capacity to ensure that those alive were given proper care.
The authorities of Wuse General Hospital confirmed that 15 dead people were brought into the hospital.
Mr John Nimzing, the Head of Mortuary attendants in the hospital, told NAN that 11 people were brought in dead while four died on arrival at the hospital.
At Asokoro General Hospital, the Chief Medical Director, Dr Amodu Abubakar, said 27 bodies were deposited in the hospital morgue, while 25 people were receiving treatment for their wounds.
He, however, said that more victims were still being brought to the hospital.
He advised relatives of the victims to visit the hospital information centre to obtain information about their relations.
At the National Hospital, Abuja, 15 bodies were reported to have been deposited at the hospital morgue while the number of casualties was not known.
No fewer than 40 casualties were receiving emergency treatment at the hospital.
Dr Yakubu Bukar, Consultant, Accident and Emergency, Garki Hospital, confirmed that one injured person was brought to the hospital.
He told NAN that the injured, Chima Okere was attended to upon arrival and found not to be in critical condition. According to him, the person sustained injuries at the back of his head and required several stitches.
Bukar said Garki Hospital was a private hospital so victims were not brought in to the clinic except for those whose relatives could afford the bill.
At Nyanya General Hospital, the authorities said no fewer than 100 injured persons received treatment.
Dr Frank Idekwu, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, said scores of the wounded were referred to other hospitals for further medical attention.
The hospital, located less than 200m from the scene of the explosion, was the first port of call for those who sustained injuries.
“For those without open wounds we did a quick examination and asked them to report another day,’’ he said.
Idekwu said the hospital had compiled a list of all persons treated and on admission at the hospital.
He advised those whose relatives had yet to be accounted for to verify from the hospital.
Meanwhile, the hospital, which is designed for women and children, has become a bee-hive of activity as relatives, friends and families combed the wards in search for their loved ones.
